all it takes is a hot day, a garden hose, and some dog shampoo.

Sailor and Prairie had baths today. It was my solution for getting some sun while having a source of water very conveniently placed- in my hand.

Plus, I was making myself useful. They needed those baths.

Prairie loved it. With all that golden retriever hair, how could she not?

  Sailor endured it gallantly. Shivering, but brave.

My only mistake was thinking that they would dry off quickly running around in the sun...

Sailor's quick-dry method was to roll in freshly mowed grass clippings.

How predictable. Should've seen that coming.

Prairie was thinking along the same lines, as you'll see below...

This pictures is funny to me for two reasons:

1. Prairie's face is squashed into the ground.

2. Augustus is just sitting there, watching in fascination.

NOTHING beats a good roll in grass clippings after a refreshingly cold bath.

Prairie may not be graceful, but she always looks content with how things are...

Wait... maybe her lack of grace is inherited from me.

Just a thought.

a dip in the sea.

In Avalon, the signs say "no dogs allowed" on the beach.

But after the lifeguards leave, it's a whole different matter.

Our friend Kelso the Alaskan Eskimo (aka Ultimate Beach Dog) showed Augustus what he was missing.

On Tuesday, we went to the ocean. Yesterday, we tried out the bay marina.

Some photos of the kiddos at the marina...

Bravely, Augustus tests it out with a toe.

Kelso trots right in... he'll go up to his chin.

the water is sparkly in the sun... but just not tempting enough to go farther.

"see? i did it!"

Kelso & Auggy are amazed at Holly's brilliant shaking ability.

They seem to have momentarily forgotten that they are capable of doing the exact same movement.

unproductive

today i'm feeling incredibly unproductive.

i have things i could be doing...

but i feel the most accomplished after i've played with the dogs and taken plenty of pictures of them.

augustus is easy. he loves the camera.

sailor is tricky. mostly because he's comparable to a small black torpedo.

then out of the blue, he tries to climb up my leg, just wanting to be picked up...

doesn't work for a photo.

prairie should be easy. she's just not as photogenic as the other two.

she's best described as sweet and lumbering.

but she's a dear.

using his noodle

My mom told me that she found Augustus with this water noodle, carrying it around like he thought he had found the biggest stick in the world, and it was his own prized possession. Augustus loves sticks. In our house at Baylor, there were always sticks from his collection to be found in corners and under the sofa.

So I decided to make a mini photo-shoot out of this new discovery.

I was holding the camera and the noodle. You can see he's bracing himself for this challenge.

Such agility. Look at those ears!

I'm just now noticing that these pictures are all slanted from the way I was balancing myself...

He finally swiped it. And off he goes...

He underestimated the thickness.

But he carries on valiantly. Determined.

The large blue stick is his.